MWC21 workshop on immersive mindfulness therapies
During the 2021 edition of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) and 4YFN, in Barcelona, Ignasi Capellà, Broomx’s CMO and co-founder, led a talk on how leading hospitals are using immersive technologies to improve the emotional well-being of healthcare professionals during the COVID pandemic. Dr. Ramos Quiroga, head of the department of psychiatry and the president of the innovation commission at Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, and Neus Domènech, the chief innovation officer at Fundació Hospital d’Olot i Comarcal de la Garrotxa, joined Capellà to discuss how they’ve used immersive mindfulness therapies to treat and prevent mental disorders in the medical staff and patients from their hospitals. This workshop was part of the Digital Health & Wellness Summit of 4YFN, on the official MWC agenda.
Immersive therapies and the COVID mental health crisis
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a heavy toll on the mental health of the global population. According to a study made in Spain by the Center for Sociological Research (CIS), 41.9% of the population have had sleep problems. In comparison, more than half of the country’s citizens – 51.9% – admit to feeling fatigued.
In addition, a study by the National Council of Psychology has indicated that 40% of those surveyed had moderate and severe symptoms of depression, and another 30% had anxiety problems. On the frontlines in the fight against COVID-19, the case of health workers is alarming: 50% may have post-traumatic stress disorder, and almost a third have considered leaving the profession in recent months.
Broomx’s immersive technologies for health care started to be implemented out of the necessity to create a solution that could improve mental health through immersive mindfulness therapies. At Hospital Vall d’Hebron and Hospital d’Olot, studies are being conducted to prove the efficacy of the treatment.
Groundbreaking findings
The therapies are used to improve the emotional health of the medical staff. Still, the study further indicated that immersive sessions combined with mindfulness therapies are also an essential tool in preventing mental disorders, and its benefits can be applied to different age groups. The study at Hospital Vall d’Hebron focused on providing guided mindfulness meditations, and in Hospital d’Olot, the goal was to create a relaxing space within the hospital grounds. Both studies aimed to improve the mental health of their workers and patients.
Groundbreaking findings
The therapies are used to improve the emotional health of the medical staff. Still, the study further indicated that immersive sessions combined with mindfulness therapies are also an essential tool in preventing mental disorders, and its benefits can be applied to different age groups. The study at Hospital Vall d’Hebron focused on providing guided mindfulness meditations, and in Hospital d’Olot, the goal was to create a relaxing space within the hospital grounds. Both studies aimed to improve the mental health of their workers and patients.
Hospital Vall d’Hebron study
Through a study with over 100 healthcare professionals, conducted between February and May of 2021, 80% of the participants were diagnosed at the beginning of each immersive therapy session with emotional distress, 100% of the participants left the sessions feeling relaxed, happy and believed it was a rewarding experience.
During the workshop, Dr. Ramos Quiroga clarified that the project was only possible due to his colleagues who also believed in the treatment derived from the immersive therapies, including Eva Aurín and Mercedes Rodriguez, who were also responsible for leading the study.
The immersive mindfulness sessions powered by Broomx’s MK360 and guided by Marta Achutegui, a care nurse certified in mindfulness instruction by the University of Barcelona, started as a trial period that evolved to be a mindfulness course designed for health professionals; it consisted of four sessions of one hour each. This course will continue from September – October of 2021 with other healthcare professionals from Hospital Vall d’Hebron.
Hospital d’Olot study
Likewise, Neus Domènech, Hospital d’Olot Chief Innovation Officer (CINO), explained how after incorporating immersive relaxation therapies powered by Broomx’s MK360, they could reduce the anxiety of those participating in the sessions and improve their mental health. At Hospital d’Olot, a study with 35 participants over eight weeks examined how the therapies benefited the participants’ mental health.
Their findings indicated that over 85% of the participants saw an increase in their mental well-being. In addition, the study concluded that the sessions were also an essential tool to prevent mental disorders since they treated the participants’ emotional well-being, which resulted in a decrease in anxiety levels preventing mental illnesses from being developed.
Furthermore, throughout the study, new uses for Broomx’s MK360 were found, which will be implemented in the future at Hospital d’Olot. Including using it in surgeries, for example, in colon and pediatric surgery, for neurorehabilitation — such as in the recovery of myocardial infarction (MI), and as a teaching methodology to better prepare the hospital’s staff.
New uses for Broomx’s MK360
During the workshop, Capellà shared an anecdote of one of his visits to Hospital Vall d’Hebron, where he saw up close the benefits of the immersive therapies. During one of the sessions, a young patient entered the room equipped with the MK360 and that was depicting an immersive projection. After a short moment, the patient started to interact with the projection. She described what she was seeing along with what she was feeling. The session was illustrated by the 360 immersive projection of turtles and jellyfishes — content offered by Broomx and included in the catalog of content available on the MK360’s app.
The patient was diagnosed with Autism (TEA) and during her hospitalization that lasted for several months she didn’t talk. Her communication during the immersive session was celebrated as a great success and indicated that immersive therapy sessions are a solution that can have its use expanded to multiple areas, such as the treatment of mental health disorders and children palliative care.
Besides, suicide attempts among the youth community have also risen during the pandemic, as indicated by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), affiliated with the World Health Organization (WHO), which assures that the pandemic may increase risk factors for suicide. Therefore, finding ways to care for their mental health is of utmost importance, and at Hospital Vall d’Hebron, they believe that immersive mindfulness therapies are a powerful psychological resource.
Mindfulness immersive solutions
Thanks to the findings derived from the studies at Hospital Vall d’Hebron and Hospital d’Olot and the documentation presented by Capellà, Dr. Ramos Quiroga, and Neus Domènech, we were able to offer an enlightening workshop at the digital health and wellness summit of 4YFN, which was part of the official agenda of MWC21.
As we opened for questions in the last portion of the workshop, one of the attendees asked us, “why don’t we see more immersive technology applied to health care since we know there are many benefits to it?” Dr. Ramos Quiroga answered the question by saying, “it is necessary to find the financing formulas in this type of technology so that it can be massively implemented.”
We are thankful to professionals such as Dr. Ramos Quiroga and Neus Domènech as well as the rest of the medical staff from both institutions, who bet on the benefits of immersive technology applied to health care and today reap the rewards of this investment. We are excited to continue to find new uses for immersive technology that revolutionizes health care.
